World’s largest floating offshore wind farm begins full service, Norway’s Equinor says
by Daniel J. Graeber
Washington DC (UPI) Aug 23, 2023
The crown prince of Norway on Wednesday linked the cables to mark the inaugural begin of operations on the Hywind Tampen offshore wind farm, which power firm Equinor mentioned is the world’s largest.
A number of the generators began spinning from the floating, offshore Hywind Tampen facility within the Norwegian waters of the North Sea final 12 months, although the total capability was solely realized in August. Haakon Magnus, the crown prince of Norway, was joined Wednesday by the nation’s prime minister and different dignitaries in connecting the cables that marked the formal begin of operations on the facility.
Used to assist energy the infrastructure on the Gullfaks and Snorre oil and gasoline fields within the North Sea, Equinor mentioned the wind facility is anticipated to chop some 200,000 tons of carbon dioxide yearly from the North Sea producers.
“Right this moment marks a brand new milestone,” mentioned Siri Kindem, head of Equinor’s renewables enterprise in Norway. “With Hywind Tampen, we’ve proven that we will plan, construct and fee a big, floating offshore wind farm within the North Sea.”
The 11 generators that make up the floating wind farm mix for a peak capability of 88 megawatts. That ought to cowl about 35% of the power demand for the 5 offshore platforms within the North Sea.
Norway has one of many fastest-growing markets for offshore wind and its economic system is exclusive. It is a main oil and gasoline producer for a area more and more in search of non-Russian sources, but it surely additionally powers most of its economic system with renewable power sources.
Final week, its authorities mentioned that three power corporations had been awarded acreage within the North Sea to retailer carbon dioxide, a potent greenhouse gasoline. The nation’s power regulator believes the North Sea has the potential to retailer greater than 80 billion tons of CO2, which is the equal of 1,000 years price of Norwegian emissions.
Equinor mentioned it took 5 years to convey Hywind Tampen from idea to completion. About 60% of the assist contracts had been awarded to Norwegian companies.
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